Back to the Good Ole Days

Long before I was born, passengers on board an airliner were considered lucky by most.  Cruising at 30,000 feet, over 500 M.P.H. to reach your destination was a luxury.  These people did not have to drive hundreds of miles spending hours, sometimes days to reach their destination.  Nor did they have to board a train, taking just as long as the automobile.  No, they could go from New York to L.A. in as little as 4 hours.  And to top it off, you were treated like royalty.  Customer service was at its peak, pilots and flight attendants were iconic.  Most of these passengers were wealthy – doctors, lawyers, businessmen.  And they dressed for the occasion.  Suits, hats, dresses and gloves were not uncommon.  The less fortunate had to save money for several years to take part.  These were the "golden years of commercial aviation." 

Today, this is not the case.  Thousands upon thousands of passengers take to the skies every day.  It is not uncommon for the average family to fly at least once, if not more, per year.  Everyday people are traveling via airplane.  Whether it’s for work, business, or holiday; we view flight as a common experience. 

So, the question being imposed this week is:  Should the ability to take a commercial flight on an airline to get from point A to point B be affordable to most of the public?  Or should it be a luxury?  Personally, I think it should be a luxury.  I remember some of my first experiences on a commercial flight as a child.  My family and I were so excited.  We had to save for long periods of time and make many sacrifices to take those trips to Disney World and Hawaii.  Was it worth it?  You bet it was.  Walking down that jetway and into the airplane was an experience like no other.  Today, I think most people take for granted all the advantages of commercial flight.  They have this negative perception when it comes to air travel.  Long lines, delays, packed airplanes and lost luggage are some of the most common complaints.  If it’s so bad, why continue flying?  Because, on most occasions, it’s just as affordable to drive your car as it is to fly.  And most want to get to their destination in a shorter period of time rather than waiting in miles of traffic. 

How can flying be just as affordable as driving?  According to Wisebread, there are multiple factors that can contribute to the high price of driving.  If your destination will take more than one day to reach, consider hotels, meals and rising fuel prices.  And, if you plan on staying in a large city, such as New York, you can expect to pay up to $50 a day to park your vehicle.  Of course, if your destination is only a few hours away, driving would still be the cheaper option.  BeFrugal.com offers a free calculator to determine if flying or driving is the better decision. 

I think that if the airlines were to increase their prices, the general public will still pay to fly.  I believe that many would rebel at first, however, they will cease over time.  With the increase in ticket fares, airlines would be able to offer pilots and flight attendants more compensation.  We may see an increase in those interested in becoming a pilot.  And the airlines would no longer be fighting over who has the lowest ticket prices.  It may level the playing field.  In my opinion, we will never see the “golden years of commercial aviation” again.  It’s a different world out there today.